Masculinity In Frankenstein

In feminine romantic literature, the male protagonist’s success depends entirely on a female companion. If a female is not present, it can cause conflict between the main character and the world. This is evident in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, in which she tells both stories of the irresponsible Victor Frankenstein and the vengeful but, compassionate monster. Both main characters, Victor and his monster, need someone to make them feel secure of themselves: Frankenstein needing a sense of balance of sanity, and the monster wanting someone he can relate with. Men believe they can do anything making themselves think they’re immortal, like Victor Frankenstein. He puts off love and friendship from those who are close to him, making science …show more content…
From looking at his eyes, Victor was horrified of the sight of the creature. “Most of the same colour as the dun-white sockets… beauty of the dream vanished, breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (43, Chapter 5). Although, Frankenstein spent two years creating this monster, he finds it disgusting and horrifying. “Mary Shelley’s focus on the birth-process illuminates for a male readership hitherto unpublished female anxieties, fears, and concerns about the birth- process and its consequences” (Mellor, Making a Monster). Without a women to create/ give labor, Victor on his own created a monster without thinking about the consequences. Instance is when Victor got scared and he ran away, leaving the monster alone at home. Making it seem like he’s abandoning his child. “I escaped and rushed downstairs. I took refuge in the courtyard… I remained during the rest of the night. I stepped fearfully in: the apartment was empty, and my bedroom was also freed from its hideous guest” (44-47, Chapter 5). Victor ran away from his creation without thinking about his monster escaping. “I could hardly believe that so great of a fortune could have befallen me, but when I became assured that my enemy had indeed fled, I clapped my hands for joy and ran down to Clerval” (47, Chapter 5) Without thinking of what can happen to the monster or what the monster can do, Victor runs to Clerval …show more content…
The way the monster sees the moon shows how the monster wants affection, especially from a mother. “The moon traditionally represents woman who lacks her own importance and thus reflects the light of the sun, symbolic of man. Most of the monster’s significant activity occurs during night, and the moon is often referenced as if it nurtures the creature born without a mother” (Brackett, A literary Reference to Her Life and Work). The monster seems to seek a motherly love the way he looks at the moon. On his own, the monster learns about love and compassion from books he’s read. “The books the creature reads teach him about sensibility; they allow him to articulate his inclinations toward love and community” (Pon, Toward a Feminist Figure of Humanity). From what he learns, he personally wants to experience loving someone. He orders his creator Victor Frankenstein to create female companion an exchange for the monster leaving to South America. “A companion must be of the same species and have the same defects. This being you must create...On you it rests, whether I quit forever the neighborhood of man and lead a harmless life, or become the scourge of your fellow creatures and the author of your own speedy ruin” (89-133, Chapter 10-16) The monster is tired of being lonely and wants a companion, wanting someone to be in the same position as